ENSURING EFFECTIVE SOCIAL PROTECTIONS IN BANGLADESH: THE NEED FOR MULTILEVEL GOVERNANCE

This article addresses the challenge of ensuring effective social protection in Bangladesh, arguing for the need to move towards a "multilevel governance" approach. It provides a critical assessment of the existing social protection system, which is characterized by a fragmented array of numerous small-scale, centrally-managed programs. The study identifies the major weaknesses of this system, including problems of targeting, leakage, and a lack of coordination. The research then proposes a multilevel governance framework as a solution. This framework involves a clearer division of roles and responsibilities between the central government, local government institutions, and non-governmental organizations. The paper argues that a more decentralized and coordinated system would lead to a more effective and accountable delivery of social protection services to the poor and vulnerable. The analysis concludes that institutional reform based on the principles of multilevel governance is essential for building a comprehensive and effective social safety net in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh has a long history of implementing social protection programs, but their effectiveness has been hampered by a fragmented and highly centralized delivery system. This paper argues that a new approach, based on the principles of "multilevel governance," is needed to build a more effective social safety net. The study begins with a critical diagnosis of the existing system. It highlights the proliferation of a large number of small, often-overlapping, social safety net programs, which are almost entirely managed by the central government bureaucracy, leading to significant inefficiencies and leakages. The core of the article is the articulation of a new, multilevel governance framework. The first level of this framework is the central government, which, the paper argues, should be responsible for setting the national policy framework, defining standards, and providing the bulk of the financing. The second level is local government. The paper makes a strong case for devolving the responsibility for the selection of beneficiaries and the day-to-day implementation of many programs to elected local government bodies, which are closer to the people and can be more responsive to local needs. The third level is the non-state sector, including NGOs and the private sector, which the paper identifies as crucial partners in service delivery, particularly in hard-to-reach areas. The findings suggest that by creating a more rational division of labor and fostering a spirit of partnership between these different levels of governance, Bangladesh can significantly improve the efficiency, transparency, and impact of its social protection system.